Accommodation in Northern Tanzania

ACCOMMODATION
swala@habari.co.tz
Revised: November 11, 2007

This page: Arusha Tourist Luxury Arusha Park Lake Victoria Dar es Salaam Coast Lushoto-Usambaras
Other pages: Lake Manyara Lake Natron Tarangire Ngorongoro Serengeti Kilimanjaro

Swala Safaris' preference is for the small intimate lodges rather than the large mass-tourist hotels. They are highly recommended for their setting, ambience, food, and service. They are usually owner-managed. In addition to English and Swahili, main stream European languages are also spoken. Email and/or Internet available at most lodges. Tariffs are per person sharing. There is a supplement varying from $10 to $35 for a single room. Rates are bed and breakfast in Arusha and full board outside Arusha.

Lodge Bookings can be made through swala@habari.co.tz . Christmas and New Year Supplement $25 per person: 24-25 + 31 December. Low Season discount of 15% on most hotel rates. Hotels require a deposit of 50% 35 days prior to the booking and the balance payable within a week of the booking. Children under 12 pay 50% if sharing room with adults. Day rooms available from $30.

Peak Season: 1-28 February; 1 July-31 August.
High Season: 1-31 January; 1-31 March; 1-30 June; 1 September-31 December.
Low Season: 1 April - 31 May (except Easter Weekend when High season rates apply)..

The following are Swala Safaris' choice of accommodation. If you have any preferences please let us know. Prices of lodges are given below.

ARUSHA. SMALL INTIMATE LODGES $50 - $80 B&B. Highly Recommended. Lodges are owner-managed and in very attractive and secluded settings. The accommodation is of a high standard and the food very good to excellent. All have wonderful views of Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Meru. Welcome drinks. All rooms have attached bathroom. Airport transfer is $50 and is not included in the prices below . There is no charge for a transfer if staying at KIA Lodge. Tariffs are per double room bed and breakfast.

DikDik $60. Swiss-owned. 20 kms from Arusha on way to airport. Mini bar. Full menu for late night arrivals. Swimming pool. German and French also spoken.
Kigongoni Lodge $70. Situated 10 kms from Arusha at Tengeru. On old coffee estate. Dutch also spoken.
KIA Lodge $60 bed and breakfast. No charge for airport transfer. A few minutes drive from Kilimanjaro Airport. Situated in typical African savannah scenery. Recommended for those who don't want the 45 minute drive to a hotel at the end of a long flight. Swimming pool. Dutch also spoken.
Moivaro Plantation Lodge $120. 12 kms from Arusha. Small picturesque cottages with verandah. Swimming pool. Dutch and French also spoken.
Mt Meru Game Lodge $140 double room bed and breakfast. Half-hour drive from airport. Small and intimate. Arusha's oldest lodge and still retains much of its traditional ambience. Excellent food. French, Italian and Swedish also spoken.
Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge $150. Farm house dating from 1900's. Ten acres of gardens and woodland and twenty acres of natural forest and a small lake. French and German also spoken.
Rivertrees Inn $145. Small Country Inn accommodating 24 guests. Eight self-contained guestrooms are located in the main farmhouse or within the spacious gardens. Two 'River Cottages' offer private decks and wood burning fire places. English and German spoken.

B. TOURIST HOTELS B&B $80 - $120. Self-contained rooms. Close to Arusha town centre. All have en suite rooms and restaurant and bar. Most have swimming pools. Tariffs per person per night. Airport transfer $50 per vehicle. Tariffs are for double rooms. These hotels are convenient for town but do not have the ambience of the smaller private lodges.

Hotel Equator $100. Centre of Arusha. Owned and managed by the nearby 5-Star Arusha Hotel.
Impala Hotel $90 small en suite rooms. Disco held regularly. Good variety of restaurants.
L'Oasis Lodge $80. 2 kms from town. Rooms at budget and de-luxe rates.
Karama Lodge $75. 7 kms from town.
Mt Meru Hotel. Under renovation until 2007.
Mt. Village $60. A converted coffee farm house. Operated by the Serena group.
New Safari Hotel $90. Town centre. Very good value.
Naaz Hotel $60. Town Centre. Clean and comfortable. A favourite with backpackers.
Outpost $25. Basic but comfortable. One km from town centre.

C. LUXURY HOTELS AND LODGES BB $55 - $75. Self-contained rooms. All have swimming pools. Tariffs per person per night bed and breakfast.

Arusha Hotel $75. City centre. Arusha's oldest hotel. 65 elegant rooms. Recently re-modeled but retaining its historical charm. Five-star. Recommended.
Coffee Lodge Peak Season $290; High Season $105; Single room supplement $25. B&B $145. Set in a coffee estate 1 km from Arusha Local Airport and 5 kms from town centre. Swimming pool.
Ngurdoto Resort $180. Between Kilimanjaro Airport and Arusha on road to Arusha National Park. A large new resort complex. Swimming pool.

D. ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK LODGES. Recommended for those who want to stay a few days in Arusha Park or intend climbing Mt Meru. Rates given are Full Board.

Hatari Lodge $220. On border of Arusha National Park. Great place for visits to Arusha Nastional Park and walks on Mt Meru. The lodge was the location for the 1950's film "Hatari" starring John Wayne, Hardy Kruger and Edward G. Robinson. German also spoken.
Momella Lodge $150. One hour from Arusha. Old-established lodge on the boundary of Arusha National Park. Wonderful views of Kilimanjaro and Mt Meru. A good base for exploring Mt Meru and Arusha National Park.
Ngurdoto Lodge $170. 5 rooms. Small, owner-managed lodge on slopes of Mt Meru. Excellent food.

E. TANZANIA COAST. Excellent beaches. Low-key tourist area. Ushongo is situated near the old Arab port of Pangani. Lodges are small and overlook the ocean. Good food, comfortable en suite rooms.

Ushongo Beach (full board): Tides Lodge $180.    Emanwani Lodge $150.
Tanga - town hotels (B&B): Mkongwe Hotel $65.    Panori Hotel $40
Beach Hotels ($30 - $50 B&B): Argavia    Capricorn Cottages   Peponi    Tingtinga

G. LAKE VICTORIA: Mwanza-Musoma-Speke Bay.

Lukuba Island. $120 Full Board. Lake Victoria.
Musoma: Peninsula Hotel $30 B&B. Musoma.
Mwanza: Aspen Hotel $20 B&B. New Mwanza $55 B&B. Tilapia Hotel $50. Tunza Lodge $40.
Speke Gulf: Speke Bay Lodge $60 Full Board. Recommended. See 11-14 day safaris.

H. DAR ES SALAAM HOTELS - Town and Ocean Hotels. Budget hotels have not been included as we are not sure we can recommend them. They can sometimes be over-priced. The luxury hotels are situated either near the ocean or in the upmarket section of the city. Tariffs are Bed and Breakfast per person.

Moderate. City. Sleep Inn $30; Starlight Hotel $30; Peacock Hotel $35; Q-Bar Guesthouse $35; Smokies Tavern $45.
Luxury. City. Holiday Inn $65; New Africa $75; Courtyard $95; Royal Palm $125.
Ocean View Hotels. Oyster Bay $75; Golden Tulip $100; Sea Cliff $105.

I. LUSHOTO - USAMBARAS. Two small lodges that are very cozy and provide very good food. Highly recommended. The Usambara Mountains are well worth three nights stay. The area is good for walking and is close to some of the Usambara patches of forest that have rare endemic birds.

Lawns Hotel $50. Situated in Lushoto.
Grants Lodge $50. 30 minutes from Lushoto.
Mueller's Lodge $50. 35 minutes from Lushoto.

There are regular bus services to Lushoto from Arusha. Cost is about $30 per person. Without your own transport you may find getting around difficult. However, the lodges will collect you from Lushoto. Swala Safaris will provide further information on birding and cultural tours of the Usambaras.